(Intermission) Destined Lovers or Enemies - Chapter 1: War of Light and Dark

Author's Note: As noted at the end of Chapter 710, I am posting a 13-chapter Alternate Universe (AU) story that will bring more context to the next main arc, which is about alternate universes. Also, standard dialogue tags will now be used.

Chapter 1: War of Light and Dark

Zeth wakes up in his bed. He sits up and yawns. “What day is it? Whatever, time to get up.”

He puts on some new clothes for the day, a light blue shirt with a gold zigzag pattern as well as tan-colored pants. There is a knock at his door, immediately grabbing his attention.

“Yes? What is it?” Zeth asks.

The person responds, “It’s me, Pearl. Lady Harmona needs her forces assembled. That includes you.”

“Alright, I will be out in a moment,” Zeth answers.

A bit later, Zeth walks through the hall and thinks to himself. “What is going on now? I can only imagine we are about to have another battle with Hell.”

***

Zeth and many of Harmona’s forces have assembled outside where Harmona stands on a stage before them.

Harmona begins a speech. “I know this is very sudden for many of you. However, there is constantly increasing demon activity in the country of Potak. Our gathered intel has us believe that Hell plans to take control of that region. We are going to divide our forces into five sections. Each will be led by a different leader. Those five leaders will be Grinton, Zentano, Zenfaro, Zaydra, and Zeth.”

Zeth opens his eyes a bit wider as he looks a little surprised. “Me? Well, if I’m going to be a leader, I'd better get into my Royal Battle Armor.”

Harmona concludes her speech. “After all the teams are decided, you will all move out.”

***

In Hell.

Hamura and Salina are walking down a hall.

“Are you sure about this, Princess Hamura?” Salina asks. “I don’t think she is in the best mood right now.”

Hamura chuckles and then smiles during her reply. “I sure am. There is no greater asset on the battlefield than the most cruel and evil creature out there.”

They soon walk up to a door in the hallway.

Salina nervously speaks. “You may not like what you see.”

“I already know what to expect,” Hamura replies, still with a smile on her face.

They open the door and see Sasha just sitting on her bed. She is covered in blood, and there are demon corpses all over the floor with their insides carved out.

Salina points at the corpses on the floor. “See, she has carved out the insides of more than usual.”

Hamura continues to smile, now with cold satisfaction. “That is a good thing. That’s all the more enemies she needs to unleash her sadistic desires on.”

Sasha glares at them with piercing eyes. “What do you two want? Or are you hear for me to carve out your insides and feed them to my Hellhounds?”

Hamura and Salina fully enter the room, stepping over a corpse on the floor in the process.

Hamura responds. “No, but my dear sister, what I have to tell you has to do with that.”

Sasha raises an eyebrow. “And what would that be?”

Hamura replies, “We are doing an invasion of one of Earth’s countries that would give an advantageous position on the mortal world. We are sure to encounter Heaven’s forces. We are putting you at the head of one of our units. In other words, you get to tear out the insides of many of our enemies, including whichever poor sap is heading their unit. How does that sound to you?”

Sasha stares at Hamura for a moment, not changing her cold glare just yet. She then starts smiling sadistically. “I like that. I’ll do it.”

Hamura smiles back with full satisfaction. “I couldn’t have asked for a better sister.”

***

Later. In Heaven.

Zeth is wearing his Royal Battle Armor and faces the 100 or so angels that he is in charge of, one of them being Pearl.

Zeth looks at them all with a serious expression and then begins confidently speaking. “Listen up! We are about to head down to Earth. When we get there, we will move carefully until we spot the enemy. Hopefully, we will get the jump on them. Once we engage the enemy, we are to tear them apart until they are drowning in a pool of their own blood. Are you with me!?”

Pearl and the angels respond in unison. “Sir! Yes, Sir!”

Harmona walks up to Zeth.

With a hint of concern in her voice, Harmona says to him, “The area you will be going to is perfect for setting up ambushes. Be careful, don’t fall for an ambush while trying to set up your own.”

Zeth smiles with full confidence. “Don’t worry, Mom. I promise we will be careful and everything will go smoothly. There is not a single person who could stop my dedication to the mission and protecting the soldiers entrusted to me.”

Harmona smiles. “Those are big words coming from my youngest child. Now, go down there and give them hell.”

Zeth’s smile turns into a full smirk. “Oh, I will.”

***

Back in Hell.

Sasha has changed into her gray button-up shirt with two vertical red lines.

Salina stares at Sasha’s clothes while scratching her own face. “Aren’t you going to dress in anything more royal-looking?”

“No. I feel this fits me best. Let’s go,” Sasha replies.

They start walking through a hallway until they run into Hamura, who is wearing royal-looking clothes.

Hamura comments curiously on Sasha’s attire. “I see my little sister isn’t interested in looking the part for the upcoming battle.”

Sasha gives her a cold stare. “I don’t care about looking the part. As long as I get to tear out the insides of my enemies and feed them to my Hellhounds, I’m good.”

Hamura chuckles. “I, too, hope you get to satisfy your sadistic urges out there, so that’s fine with me.”

Sasha puts her hand to her forehead while smiling with sadistic desire. “And whatever captain they send to fight me better be strong. It would make tearing out his insides and feeding them to my Hellhounds all the sweeter.”

Hamura grins. “What a gruesome death that will be. I wish I could be there to see it.”

***

In Heaven, Zeth makes his declaration. “I will come out victorious!”

In Hell, Sasha makes her declaration. “The battlefield will be filled with blood and guts!”

***

In the country of Potak, which is located on Earth’s western continent.

The area of Potak is filled with trees, fields, hills, large rocks, and creeks.

Zeth leads a squad of about 100 angels. He has Pearl by his side. They are in an area with a good number of trees and are approaching a hill.

Pearl looks at Zeth, and a look of unease comes across her face. “I’m not sure if approaching the hill is a good idea.”

“It will be fine,” Zeth replies.

Pearl glances at the top of the hill. “But we could be seen from many places if we go up the hill.”

Zeth replies with assurance. “We are just going to take a quick peek. If we don’t instantly see anything, we are going back down.”

Zeth, Pearl, and a few other angels go on top of the hill. On another hill, a short distance away, they see Sasha, Salina, and a few demons.

Zeth frowns with disappointment. “Well, so much for an ambush.”

They all look at each other from their respective hills. Zeth and Sasha have eyes on each other. Zeth grits his teeth in anger while Sasha smiles sadistically and licks her lips.

Zeth’s brows furrow. “She’s the leader.”

Sasha grins with sadistic anticipation. “He’s the strongest.”

Narrator: The two sides led by Zeth and Sasha have encountered each other. The battle begins! Chapter 1 END

To be Continued in DLoE Chapter 2: Pearl vs Salina